It's a small world after all

One billionth of a meter — the size of a nanometer — gives scientists and engineers plenty of room to get creative.

Dr. Ewa Kirkor is one of those scientists, a nanotechnologist who works with materials and structures that range from 1 to 100 nanometers in size.

What that means is that Dr. Kirkor manipulates matter on the atomic and molecular scale. Recently, she manipulated it into a patent-pending invention that can greatly reduce overheating in semiconductor materials and other electronic components.

Several entities have taken note and given her their support: the Connecticut Energy Finance and Investment Authority; Connecticut Innovations; and, most recently, the National Science Foundation, which has awarded her a Small Business Innovation Research grant.

What are the direct applications of her invention? Think mobile computing, where overheating and heating and cooling cycles are significant contributors to the failure of semiconductor and other electronic parts.

Also exciting are potential applications to industries involved in energy conversion and energy generation.

Dr. Kirkor enjoys plenty of support here on campus as well. The administration and faculty are thrilled with her contributions to the Physics Department through her work on nano-sized carbon allotropes and her students are continually inspired by her passion for her discipline. In turn, Dr. Kirkor praises UNH’s friendly atmosphere and the administration’s support of the physics program.

Although she shares her time with UNH, Dr. Kirkor’s main role is Principal Investigator, President, and CEO of Anchor Science LLC in Branford. The company was voted one of the “Tech Companies to Watch” by The Connecticut Technology Council for its innovativeness, expertise in conductivity metrology, and the patents the company has in the pipeline.

Related Links

Due to the expected snowfall and potential hazardous driving conditions, all classes scheduled for Tuesday, March 3 that start at 4:30 p.m. or later at the West Haven and Orange campuses have been canceled.

Continue to check our Facebook page for on-campus service updates for current students.